The headmaster of Mazane Primary school in Bugesera District has
said that immediate steps are required to avoid more children
dropping out of school following a recent decision of not feeding them
at school.

The school feeding program was initiated in 2002 by Government of Rwanda in partnership with WFP.

WFP announced the decision to stop feeding schools noting the fact that some contributors to the program have stopped their support.

Mazane Primary School is located to the Island of Mazane in Lake
Rweru in Bugesera District.

The school comprises of 260 children and 7 teachers. All children
were enrolled in school feeding program.

The Headmaster of Mazane said the school is expected more children
leaving school due to poverty.

“Children will leave because some of them come because they
were to be fed at school. If the program stopped we expect some
to drop out school” Said Sebanani.

Earlier parents paid Frw500 per month as a part of their contribution to the feeding program at school.

Sebanani added that if the program is to continue, parents will have to pay Frw4,700 in a period of 3 months.

However, parents revealed they are poor to get such money to keep
the school feeding program.

Earlier this month, floods destroyed crops of Mazane residents, hey said “Since then they are unable to feed their children”

Local Authorities have said more donor supports is needed to avoid children to drop out schools.

Misigaro Thomas 72, says, “At this time, we used to have potatoes from wetlands. However, when water from lake Rweru spread into our fields we were unable to harvest.”

Désire Kabila is a P6 pupil at Mazane Primary School. He said the program used to help them hence there is a need to seek an immediate help for them to continue their classes.

The Bugesera vice-Mayor in charge of social Affairs has said the District will continue to encourage support from residents.

WFP recorded 635,000 School children had been enrolled in the program country wide.

However, due to financial problems, the program is expected to end this Sepember, 2012.

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